Audlem eccentric Billy Gibbons is hoping to take a group of elderly residents back in time as he opens up the door to his home – a 1950s timewarp.

The 58-year-old works as an entertainer at Audlem Country Nursing Home and Minshull Court Nursing Home in Crewe – which both care for people with dementia and enduring mental health problems – and hopes his cottage in Green Lane will evoke some of the residents’ childhood memories.

He’s planning to take some of the men and women from both homes to his house in small groups and let them take a look at the 1950s wares that fill the property, including one of his latest purchases, a radio marked with his birth date – August 13, 1956.

“I’m living – apart from just a couple of things – completely in the 1950s and have done for years,” said Billy.

“I’ve taken a couple of the 1950s items in to show them and straight away they just evoked loads and loads of memories.

“So I was thinking that if just one item does that, then what would a whole house do? It’s a cliche, but I want to take them down memory lane – back to their youth.”

Billy – who said he was ‘born to perform’ – began working at the care homes in November last year.

He’d originally applied for the role of laundry assistant, but managers wanted to make the most of his entertainment skills.

As part of his job, he sings Rock ‘n’ Roll and Rockabilly songs to the residents, with his enthusiasm for it inspiring one woman to kick her walking frame away and start jiving.

After taking in some of his dad’s war memorabilia, Billy also helped a man who’d served in the Armed Forces to suddenly remember his army number after years spent trying to recall it.

“Things like that are priceless, just fantastic,” said Billy, whose father was a prisoner of war in Poland.

Residents will hopefully be visiting Billy’s home when the warmer weather sets in.

Home manager Carlie Thompson said: “Billy has been an absolute star and the impact he has had on both the staff and residents has been amazing. Billy has great enthusiasm and motivation, his presence just makes everyone smile.”

She added: “One of my ladies whose mobility is restricted, simply got up, threw her walking frame to one side and began dancing one day when Billy was singing. I can’t praise him enough, he is such a genuine, lovely, good guy with a heart of gold.

“He has a great rapport and approach with the residents and I know they will love it when he takes them to see his ‘shrine’.”